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Scholarship Essay Writing

Scholarship Essay Prompts

Most Popular Scholarship Essay Prompts & Questions

11 min read

Published on: May 16, 2023

Last updated on: Oct 26, 2024

Popular Colleges Scholarship Prompts We Cover

In this article, we provide you with the best and most commonly used essay prompts for the following colleges.

College scholarship essay prompts
Robertson scholarship essay prompts
Park scholarship essay prompts
Vanderbilt scholarship essay prompts
Easy scholarship essay prompts
UCLA alumni scholarship essay prompts
Gilman scholarship essay prompts
Johnson scholarship essay prompts

Feel free to choose any and start writing your scholarship essay or personal statement and show the admission committee why you indeed deserve the financial aid. Make sure to follow the proper scholarship essay format when you are answering these questions.

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Current Scholarship Essay Prompts - 2024

Discuss a current global issue and explain how you would propose a solution to address it.
Describe a personal experience that influenced your decision to pursue a particular field of study.
How have you overcome a significant challenge in your life, and how has it impacted your personal growth?
Share a time when you demonstrated leadership and the impact it had on those around you.
Discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in today's society and how you have contributed to promoting these values.
Describe your career aspirations and how you plan to achieve them.
Discuss a book, movie, or other piece of media that has had a significant impact on your life and explain why.
Share a time when you had to work with someone with a different perspective or background, and how you navigated those differences.
Discuss a community service project you have participated in and the impact it had on the community.
Explain the importance of financial literacy and how you plan to manage your finances in the future.

List of Best College Scholarship Essay Prompts

Here are the most common scholarship essay question examples that you can find on most college applications in the US.

Tell us about yourself.
How will this scholarship help you?
Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
How will you make a difference in our world?
Describe a volunteer experience?
Why do you need this scholarship?
Describe a challenge you have overcome.
Who do you admire the most?
Why do you deserve this scholarship?
Briefly describe your short- and long-term goals.
What are your academic and future goals?
Tell us about a time when you had failed in something.
What makes you unique?
Does any quality or attribute distinguish you from others?
What are your most important extracurricular activities?
What is your biggest strength and weakness?
What are your greatest accomplishments?
What are your strongest personality traits?
How has your education contributed to who you are today?
What is your most prominent achievement, and how does it relate to your field of study?

Additional Scholarship Essay Prompts

Describe a time when you had to step out of your comfort zone and take a risk. What did you learn from the experience?
How have your experiences with diversity and inclusivity shaped your perspective and goals?
What motivates you to pursue your academic and career goals, and how do you stay focused on them?
Describe a moment when you faced adversity and how you overcame it.
How have your family, cultural background, or community influenced your values and beliefs?
Discuss a book, movie, or event that has impacted your life and explain why.
What is the most significant challenge facing your generation, and what solutions would you propose to address it?
Describe a time when you collaborated with others to achieve a common goal. What did you learn from the experience?
What impact do you hope to make in your chosen field or industry, and how will this scholarship help you achieve that goal?

Describe a mentor or role model who has inspired you and explain why.

General Scholarship Essay Topics

Here are some more random scholarship essay topics that you can choose from

A person who has a major influence on your life
Things you have done outside of the classroom that has demonstrated your skills
Have you struggled for something and succeeded?
What leadership qualities do you have?
Why do you want to be a ___?
How do you define leadership?
Describe the importance of a good teammate?
What do you expect to gain from a college degree?
What does success means to you?
A book that has affected you deeply

The 16 Most Popular Scholarship Questions

We have compiled a list of the 16 most popular scholarship questions and how to effectively address them. Let's take a look!

1. Career How will this scholarship help you achieve your career goals?

When addressing this prompt, discuss your future career aspirations and how the scholarship will support your academic and professional pursuits. Highlight any relevant experiences, skills, or certifications that will contribute to your success.

2. Catch-All Why do you deserve this scholarship?

This prompt allows you to discuss your overall qualifications and achievements that make you a strong candidate for the scholarship. Discuss your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community service, and future goals.

3. Challenges Discuss a personal or academic challenge you have overcome and how it has shaped you.

When addressing this prompt, be honest and open about a challenge you have faced and how you have overcome it. Highlight any lessons or skills you have gained from overcoming this challenge.

4. Champion Who is a person that has influenced you and why?

When addressing this prompt, discuss a person who has had a significant impact on your life and why. Highlight how their influence has shaped your personal or academic pursuits.

5. Change How will you make a positive impact in your community with the help of this scholarship?

When addressing this prompt, discuss your future community service goals and how the scholarship will support these efforts. Highlight any past community service experiences that demonstrate your commitment to making a positive impact.

6. Character How have your personal values and beliefs influenced your academic pursuits?

When addressing this prompt, discuss your personal values and beliefs and how they have influenced your academic and career goals. Highlight any experiences or achievements that demonstrate your character and commitment to your values.

7. Classroom How will you contribute to the academic community at your future college or university?

When addressing this prompt, discuss how you plan to contribute to the academic community at your future college or university. Highlight any academic or leadership experiences that demonstrate your potential to make a positive impact.

8. College Why have you chosen this particular college or university and how will this scholarship support your academic goals there?

When addressing this prompt, discuss why you have chosen your particular college or university and how the scholarship will support your academic pursuits. Highlight any relevant experiences or goals that align with the college or university's mission or values.

9. Committee Composition What unique perspective do you bring to the scholarship selection committee?

When addressing this prompt, discuss your unique experiences, skills, or background that you believe will contribute to the scholarship selection committee. Highlight any achievements or experiences that demonstrate your potential to make a positive impact.

10. Community How have you contributed to your local community and how will this scholarship support your future community service efforts?

When addressing this prompt, discuss any past community service experiences and how they have made a positive impact. Highlight any future community service goals and how the scholarship will support these efforts.

11. Competition How have you demonstrated your competitive spirit and drive for success?

When addressing this prompt, discuss any academic or extracurricular achievements that demonstrate your competitive spirit and drive for success. Highlight any leadership roles or experiences that demonstrate your potential for future success.

12. Contribution How will you contribute to your field of study through research or other academic pursuits? When addressing this prompt, discuss any research or academic goals you have for your field of study. Highlight any past academic or research experiences that demonstrate your potential to make a positive impact.

13. Control How have you taken control of your academic or personal life and achieved success?

When addressing this prompt, discuss any personal or academic challenges you have faced and how you have taken control of your life to achieve success. Highlight any skills or lessons you have gained from these experiences.

14. Creative How have you used your creativity to solve a problem or make a positive impact?

When addressing this prompt, discuss any experiences or achievements where you have used your creativity to make a positive impact. Highlight any problem-solving skills or unique approaches you have taken to achieve success.

15. Credentials How do your academic credentials and achievements make you a strong candidate for this scholarship?

When addressing this prompt, discuss your academic achievements and credentials that make you a strong candidate for the scholarship. Highlight any honors, awards, or certifications that demonstrate your academic excellence.

16. Culture How have your cultural experiences and background influenced your academic pursuits and goals?

When addressing this prompt, discuss how your cultural experiences and background have shaped your academic pursuits and goals. Highlight any experiences or achievements that demonstrate your unique perspective and potential to make a positive impact in your field of study.

How to Address Scholarship Essay Prompts?

Below you can find some of the most common scholarship questions and tips to answer them. Keep in mind these guidelines while answering the scholarship essay topic of your choice.

Your answers should show that you have a plan for your future and are serious about it. The scholarship committee wants to see that their money is going to someone who has the necessary drive, so don't be shy with what you say.

There's a competition going on - one that you can't afford to lose when your future is at stake. You need to stand out, and the best way to do it is by addressing any weakness with an answer like 'I currently have limited knowledge in this area, but I will be able to make up for my lack of experience through diligent study.' These scholarship committees look for applicants who show potential rather than people who already know everything about what they want from life.

It is very important to show the scholarship committee that you are passionate about your goals and ambitions. This will help them decide who they offer scholarships to, so it makes sense to take this question seriously.

While it is impossible to paint a complete image of your entire life in such a short time, you can give an overview of the information about your life that matters most with this scholarship.

To answer this question, show you have a serious plan for the future through education.

Maintaining a strong GPA throughout college is not enough; scholarship committees want more than just an educated student. They also want someone who will use their degree in ways that correspond with it. You'll have some tough competition when trying to prove yourself as a deserving candidate. So, make sure you are realistic about what types of goals and plans can realistically be achieved by going back to school or taking on another graduate program at one university.

This common scholarship essay question is a perfect way to share your thoughts about the importance of community service.

This prompt allows applicants to discuss what they have learned by doing this work and why more students should participate so that communities everywhere will improve.

Tips for Writing an Effective Scholarship Essay

Here are some key tips to keep in mind when writing your scholarship essay:

Address the Prompt: One of the most important things you can do when writing your scholarship essay is to address the prompt directly. Make sure you understand what the prompt is asking you to write about, and focus your essay on that topic.
Be Concise: Scholarship essays often have strict word limits, so it's important to be concise and to the point. Make sure every sentence in your essay serves a purpose and contributes to your overall argument.
Focus on Personal Experiences: Scholarship committees want to get to know you as a person. Thats why it's important to share personal experiences and stories in your essay. Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points for the scholarship.
Edit and Proofread: Once you've written your essay, take the time to edit and proofread it carefully. Look for typos, grammatical errors and make sure your essay flows smoothly and is easy to read.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a scholarship essay be.

Scholarship essays are usually about 500 words or one page long. If you can't find the information about the word or page limit for the essay, it's usually safe to stick to 500 words or one page.

Do scholarship essays need a title?

You can also include a title for your scholarship essay if you want, but this is usually unnecessary.

Is it okay to lie on a scholarship essay?

Scholarships are a great way to save money for college, but lying about your academic achievements could result in serious consequences.

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The Coolidge Scholarship

2022-23 essay prompts & required readings.

The Coolidge Scholarship application includes three essays. Essays two and three both have required readings which can be found below.

Please note: while the below readings are required, you are certainly permitted to reference other sources when preparing your essays — a good place to start is our About Coolidge page and the Coolidge Virtual Library .

You have learned and achieved much up to this point in your life. What are the next intellectual frontiers you hope to explore in your college years and how do you envision you might use the knowledge you gain?

Note: for this essay we are not simply asking what you hope to major in during college and what job you want as a career. Instead, please write about the ideas that interest you most, what you still have to learn about them, and what you envision you might do with the knowledge you gain in college. Please limit your essay to 400 words.

Today when natural disasters strike, Americans often expect the president to leap into action, providing relief and federal support to impacted states and communities. In 1927 two major natural disasters struck — both floods — one in the Mississippi River valley and the other in President Coolidge’s home state of Vermont. In both cases the destruction was immense, and, in both cases, Coolidge pushed back against efforts for extensive federal involvement. The President did not visit either flood site. The year after the floods, proposals were introduced in Congress calling for the federal government to address flood control. Coolidge resisted many components of these proposals, though he did eventually sign the Flood Control Act of 1928.

What concerns did Coolidge have about extensive federal involvement during and following these floods? How did he imagine the problems presented by the floods would be solved absent a strong federal government response? Why might Coolidge have preferred solutions from outside the federal government? Please write an essay of 400 words or fewer responding to the questions above. To aid you in your research, please study the materials available at the links below. You may augment these resources with research of your own. Note: although personally you may not agree with Coolidge, try to get inside his head and explain his reasoning.

Required Readings

One of the required readings for Essays 2 and 3 is the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge . The Coolidge Foundation recently published a new edition of the Autobiography , which includes a new introduction and additional supplemental material. The new edition can be purchased from the Coolidge Foundation’s online store at this link . Older editions of the Autobiography are also acceptable for you to read, and can be found at most libraries. A free version of an older edition of Coolidge’s Autobiography can also be accessed here from Archive.org. ( Note: Archive.org is a third-party site and is not affiliated with the Coolidge Scholars Program.)
The Reign of Law – excerpt of President Coolidge’s Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery; May 30, 1925
States’ Rights and National Unity – excerpt of President Coolidge’s speech at the College of William and Mary; May 15, 1926
Select presidential press conferences relating to the 1927 floods and flood relief legislation; April 22, 1927 – May 8, 1928 (excerpts)
President Coolidge’s appeals to the American people for donations to the American Red Cross for flood relief; April 22 & May 2, 1927
1927 Budget Message – excerpt of President Coolidge’s 1927 budget message; December 5, 1927
Fifth Annual Message to the Congress of the United States – excerpt of President Coolidge’s fifth annual address to Congress; December 6, 1927

The federal individual income tax seems a permanent fixture of American life today. But the income tax was relatively young in the 1920s — having been made permanent only in 1913 by the Sixteenth Amendment. Income tax rates initially started low, with the highest rate originally set at 7 percent. During World War I, however, the federal government increased rates dramatically — all the way up to a top individual income tax rate of 77 percent.

Tax reform to reduce rates was a major policy priority of President Calvin Coolidge and his Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon. The first tax cut of the 1920s, the Revenue Act of 1921, was signed by Coolidge’s predecessor, Warren G. Harding. Subsequent tax reforms were signed into law by President Coolidge in 1924, 1926, and 1928. During this period, tax rates were reduced significantly, with the top rate on the federal income tax falling to 25 percent. Rates for Americans in lower income brackets were reduced as well.

The 1920s represent an early experiment in tax reform. In this essay you are tasked with analyzing this experiment. What was the logic behind President Coolidge and Secretary Mellon’s tax cuts? What did they expect would be the benefits of lower rates? What might have been pitfalls? Reviewing the evidence from this decade, what is your evaluation of the impact of the 1920s experiment in tax reform? Please find resources available at the links below to assist in your research. You may augment these materials with additional research if you like. Your essay may not exceed 600 words.

Required Readings & Research

One of the required readings for Essays 2 and 3 is the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge . The Coolidge Foundation recently published a new edition of the Autobiography , which includes a new introduction and additional supplemental material. The new edition can be purchased from the Coolidge Foundation’s online store at this link . Older editions of the Autobiography are also acceptable for you to read, and can be found at most libraries. A free version of an older edition of Coolidge’s Autobiography can also be accessed here from Archive.org. ( Note: Archive.org is a third-party site and is not affiliated with the Coolidge Scholars Program.)
Chapter 1 of Taxation: The People’s Business by Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon
Address Before the National Republican Club by President Coolidge, February 12, 1924
President Coolidge’s 1925 Inaugural Address , March 4, 1925
Address at the Fifteenth Regular Meeting of the Business Organization of the Government by President Coolidge, June 11, 1928
Speech by Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon , October 11, 1928
Summary of federal income tax rates from 1920-1928; Source: Tax Foundation – Historical Individual Income Tax Rates & Brackets
Federal income tax receipts by income group during the 1920s; Source: Treasury Department, United States Internal Revenue, Statistics of Income
Summary of federal receipts, outlays, and surpluses or deficits from 1913 – 1940; Source: White House, Office of Management and Budget
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2023-24 Essay Prompts & Required Readings - The Coolidge ...
2023-24 Essay Prompts & Required Readings The Coolidge Scholarship application includes three essays. Essays two and three both have required readings which can be found below.
2022-23 Essay Prompts & Required Readings - The Coolidge ...
2022-23 Essay Prompts & Required Readings. The Coolidge Scholarship application includes three essays. Essays two and three both have required readings which can be found below. Please note: while the below readings are required, you are certainly permitted to reference other sources when preparing your essays — a good place to start is our ...